The UC Riverside (UCR) Highlanders men's basketball team has concluded its 2025–26 campaign. Competing in the Big West Conference under Head Coach Gus Argenal, the Highlanders finished the season with an overall record of 10–22 and a conference record of 5–15. While the season is now complete, fans and analysts often look back at the schedule to review performance trends and key matchups against conference rivals.

Currently, the athletic department is preparing for the 2026–27 season. New schedules are typically released in late summer or early fall. Below is the comprehensive record of the 2025–26 season, detailing every game from the season opener in November to the final conference clash in March.

Complete 2025-26 Men's Basketball Schedule

The 2025-26 season was characterized by a challenging non-conference slate followed by a rigorous Big West schedule. The Highlanders played their home games at the SRC Arena in Riverside, California.

November 2025: Non-Conference Opening

The Highlanders started the season strong but faced significant hurdles during their road trips.

Date Opponent Result Record
Nov 3, 2025 vs La Sierra W, 90-49 1-0
Nov 6, 2025 at North Dakota W, 74-70 2-0
Nov 11, 2025 at New Mexico L, 68-82 2-1
Nov 15, 2025 vs North Dakota L, 74-76 2-2
Nov 18, 2025 at California Baptist (Crosstown Showdown) L, 57-80 2-3
Nov 21, 2025 at San Diego W, 85-71 3-3
Nov 24, 2025 vs Grambling State W, 83-74 4-3
Nov 29, 2025 at Utah Tech L, 69-77 4-4

December 2025: Big West Bold Week and Powerhouse Matchups

December saw the start of conference play alongside high-profile games against nationally ranked opponents like BYU and UCLA.

Date Opponent Result Record
Dec 4, 2025 at UC Irvine* L, 60-73 4-5 (0-1)
Dec 6, 2025 at Cal Poly* W, 88-84 5-5 (1-1)
Dec 13, 2025 at No. 10 BYU L, 53-100 5-6
Dec 16, 2025 vs Stanton University W, 95-70 6-6
Dec 20, 2025 at St. Thomas (MN) L, 78-92 6-7
Dec 23, 2025 at UCLA L, 65-97 6-8

January 2026: Mid-Season Conference Grind

The turn of the year brought a full schedule of Big West competition, where the Highlanders struggled to find consistency on the road.

Date Opponent Result Record
Jan 1, 2026 vs Hawai'i* L, 45-88 6-9 (1-2)
Jan 8, 2026 at Cal State Bakersfield* L, 66-67 6-10 (1-3)
Jan 10, 2026 vs UC San Diego* L, 66-69 6-11 (1-4)
Jan 15, 2026 at Long Beach State* L, 73-88 6-12 (1-5)
Jan 17, 2026 vs Cal State Fullerton* W, 81-72 7-12 (2-5)
Jan 22, 2026 vs UC Irvine* L, 66-80 7-13 (2-6)
Jan 24, 2026 at UC Davis* L, 66-74 7-14 (2-7)
Jan 29, 2026 vs Long Beach State* W, 71-61 8-14 (3-7)
Jan 31, 2026 vs Cal Poly* L, 87-94 8-15 (3-8)

February & March 2026: The Final Stretch

The season concluded with several hard-fought games, including a home victory against CSUN in late February.

Date Opponent Result Record
Feb 5, 2026 at Cal State Fullerton* L, 72-78 8-16 (3-9)
Feb 7, 2026 at CSUN* L, 74-88 8-17 (3-10)
Feb 12, 2026 vs UC Santa Barbara* L, 68-76 8-18 (3-11)
Feb 14, 2026 at UC San Diego* L, 66-72 8-19 (3-12)
Feb 19, 2026 vs Cal State Bakersfield* W, 93-65 9-19 (4-12)
Feb 21, 2026 vs UC Davis* L, 73-78 9-20 (4-13)
Feb 26, 2026 at UC Santa Barbara* L, 59-70 9-21 (4-14)
Feb 28, 2026 vs CSUN* W, 95-84 10-21 (5-14)
Mar 5, 2026 at Hawai'i* L, 74-93 10-22 (5-15)

*Denotes Big West Conference game.

Key Performance Insights from the 2025-26 Season

The Highlanders' season was a tale of two environments. The team remained competitive at home in the SRC Arena, securing 7 of their 10 total wins in front of the Riverside crowd. However, the road proved difficult, with the team managing only 3 wins in away or neutral settings.

Offensively, the team averaged approximately 72.9 points per game, while the defense allowed 77.4 points. This scoring margin was a focal point throughout the season, particularly in conference play where several games were decided by five points or fewer, such as the heartbreaking one-point loss at Cal State Bakersfield in January.

Where to Find Future UCR Basketball Updates

As the 2025–26 chapter closes, the focus shifts to the upcoming 2026–27 season. The Big West Conference remains one of the most competitive mid-major conferences in the NCAA, and UCR continues to build its roster to compete for a conference title.

  • Official Website: The primary source for all schedule releases, roster changes, and ticket information is gohighlanders.com.
  • Conference Standings: For context on how UCR stacks up against teams like UC Irvine or UC San Diego, the Big West Conference official site provides real-time standings during the season.
  • Social Media: The athletic department typically announces tip-off times and television broadcast schedules (often on ESPN+ or Spectrum SportsNet) via their official social media channels.

Summary of the 2025-26 Campaign

The UC Riverside Highlanders finished the 2025–26 men's basketball season with a 10–22 overall record. While the season has ended, the schedule serves as a permanent record of the team's journey through the Big West. Fans looking for the 2026–27 schedule should expect official announcements from the university during the late summer months of 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What was UCR basketball's record for the 2025-26 season?

The UC Riverside Highlanders finished the season with a 10–22 overall record and a 5–15 record in Big West conference play.

Who is the head coach of the UCR men's basketball team?

Gus Argenal served as the head coach for the 2025–26 season, following his appointment to the position in 2025.

Where can I buy tickets for the next UCR basketball season?

Tickets for home games at the SRC Arena can be purchased through the official UC Riverside Athletics website or at the box office on game days once the new season begins.

When will the 2026-27 UCR basketball schedule be released?

The official schedule for the 2026–27 season is expected to be released by the athletic department in late August or early September 2026.